Installing a SATA SSD is exactly the same as an HDD. The connections are the same and you will find the clean install you are doing will be very easy. If you thought the HDD was not that slow, wait until you have the SSD in place then you may rethink that.
And then clone the HDD onto the new SSD so you won't have to do a clean install, unless you want to.
If the SSD is bigger than the HDD, follow the cloning software's instructions to make the C: partition on the SSD larger so you can use all its extra space.
Thanks for the replies.Do I need to worry about anything besides SATA 3?This is my first SSD. My HDD wasn't that slow for me really. I'm going to remove the 2 connections on my current HDD and attach them to the SSD.Then format and install Win 10 with my usb stick.
@oligopolycorp What are your plans for the HDD after you install Win 10 on the new SSD?
If you intend to reconnect the HDD and use it for routine storage, you're going to have to initialize it using Disk Management in Win 10 (ALL FILES DELETED!) because the Win 10 Boot Manager might get confused when it sees two drives with the OS on them, and it may just boot from the old HDD every time...
The HHD and SSD won't be on at the same time.I'll be using the same cables that are now connected to the HDD.I'm already having problems with the boot manager since I installed my CPU.I am going to get a 500 GB SSD Patriot drive and see how it works.
This is all done BEFORE Changing anything else but its not a single step reboot process to change the Default Bios RAID to AHCI. You will also need an optional 2.5 to 3.5 adapter. I recommend Silverstone SDP 09.
Once F2 Bios SATA OPERATION is AHCI and BCD mode is SAFE MODE (Black Desktop Background) you can use a DRIVE Wire to Clone to the SSD which must be AT LEAST as big as HDD. SSD can be larger but sometimes requires you to clone then re size cloned SSD with DISKMGMT.MSC to expand the partition to a new size if your cloning method does not allow for partition resizing.
Change F2 BIOS SATA OPERATION FROM IDE /IRST IRRT OPTANE to AHCI Before Cloning without having to reinstall.
Right-click the Windows Start Menu. Choose Command Prompt (Admin).
If you don’t see Command Prompt listed, it’s because you have already been updated to a later version of Windows. Right click start and choose Command Promt (ADMIN) If you do not have that option but rather it says Power Shell Admin then do that. Type this command and press ENTER: bcdedit /set safeboot minimal Restart the computer and enter F2 BIOS Setup Change the SATA Operation mode to AHCI from either IDE or RAID/IRRT/IRST/Optane. Save changes and exit Setup and Windows will automatically boot to Safe Mode. (Black Desktop Background.) Your Drive is now ready to be cloned OFFLINE either with a utility or hardware. Once cloned you will be setting F2 Bios Boot option for the M2 drive to be DRIVE 0 At no point should you be booting WINDOWS with BOTH Drives physically installed. AFTER CLONE you boot the desired drive and clear booting safe mode. Right-click the Windows Start Menu once more. Choose Command Prompt (Admin). Type this command and press ENTER: bcdedit /deletevalue safeboot Reboot once more and Windows will automatically start with F6 Mass storage AHCI drivers enabled.
You tell me Ron; you're the big shot with a panda in their avatar.(kidding)
Yes since I got my 4770 It doesn't boot.I have to press the f 12 key to get to the screen that shows my HDD under legacy boot.I then go down 2 selections and I press enter for the windows boot manager then she'll spark right up.Speedstep I'll check my settings.Also windows boot manager is under the UEFI boot entry.
Through F2 I went to boot mode and it was set to legacy.I set it to UEFI instead and now I don't need to mess with F12 to start it up.Awesome!I couldn't find an AHCI setting.
I assume I'm fully into UEFI mode now. Will that cause a problem installing my SSD drive? And Ron I tried to remove the panda joke but it won't let me edit it.
The online manual doesn't list BIOS settings so I don't know if this model has a RAID vs AHCI option or not. It would probably be called "SATA Mode" or "SATA Operation", and when you click it you probably would see RAID or AHCI, or maybe AHCI vs ATA, options.
Thanks for the detailed info Speedstep.Secure boot is off,I found the setting for the SATA mode Ron .The choices are SATA and ATA.It was on AHCI so I left it alone.
The Patriot SSD I ordered isn't a raw PCB board;it already has a case which I will mount where the HDD is if needed to ground the SSD to the chassis.
JOcean
9 Legend
•
12.6K Posts
2
August 17th, 2021 05:00
Installing a SATA SSD is exactly the same as an HDD. The connections are the same and you will find the clean install you are doing will be very easy. If you thought the HDD was not that slow, wait until you have the SSD in place then you may rethink that.
JOcean
9 Legend
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12.6K Posts
3
September 22nd, 2021 19:00
Happy to help out and glad that we all could help out as a team!
JOcean
9 Legend
•
12.6K Posts
1
August 13th, 2021 16:00
You are correct that you need a SATA 3 type and there are many good makes on the market. This page from Crucial has many good examples.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
1
August 14th, 2021 15:00
And then clone the HDD onto the new SSD so you won't have to do a clean install, unless you want to.
If the SSD is bigger than the HDD, follow the cloning software's instructions to make the C: partition on the SSD larger so you can use all its extra space.
oligopolycorp
2 Intern
•
264 Posts
0
August 16th, 2021 19:00
Thanks for the replies.Do I need to worry about anything besides SATA 3?This is my first SSD. My HDD wasn't that slow for me really. I'm going to remove the 2 connections on my current HDD and attach them to the SSD.Then format and install Win 10 with my usb stick.
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
2
August 17th, 2021 10:00
@oligopolycorp What are your plans for the HDD after you install Win 10 on the new SSD?
If you intend to reconnect the HDD and use it for routine storage, you're going to have to initialize it using Disk Management in Win 10 (ALL FILES DELETED!) because the Win 10 Boot Manager might get confused when it sees two drives with the OS on them, and it may just boot from the old HDD every time...
oligopolycorp
2 Intern
•
264 Posts
0
August 20th, 2021 18:00
The HHD and SSD won't be on at the same time.I'll be using the same cables that are now connected to the HDD.I'm already having problems with the boot manager since I installed my CPU.I am going to get a 500 GB SSD Patriot drive and see how it works.
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
1
August 20th, 2021 19:00
You could have both the SSD and HDD, but you'd just need to get the right cables...
Why should Windows Boot Manager be affected by new CPU?
speedstep
9 Legend
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47K Posts
2
August 20th, 2021 19:00
@oligopolycorp
You will want to change SATA Operation in F2 Bios setup to AHCI. You wll also want to set SECURE BOOT OFF.
You can mount your current drive in a DOCK as a backup.
https://www.amazon.com/FIDECO-Dual-Bay-External-Duplicator-Function/dp/B07D6L5CJF/
This is all done BEFORE Changing anything else but its not a single step reboot process to change the Default Bios RAID to AHCI. You will also need an optional 2.5 to 3.5 adapter. I recommend Silverstone SDP 09.
https://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-SDP09-2-5-Inch-3-5-Inch-Hot-Swappable/dp/B0049MPQDG/
Once F2 Bios SATA OPERATION is AHCI and BCD mode is SAFE MODE (Black Desktop Background) you can use a DRIVE Wire to Clone to the SSD which must be AT LEAST as big as HDD. SSD can be larger but sometimes requires you to clone then re size cloned SSD with DISKMGMT.MSC to expand the partition to a new size if your cloning method does not allow for partition resizing.
https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-500GB-Internal-MZ-77E500B-AM/dp/B08QBMD6P4/
https://www.amazon.com/Apricorn-Notebook-Upgrade-Connection-ASW-USB3-25/dp/B005C983NA/
Change F2 BIOS SATA OPERATION FROM IDE /IRST IRRT OPTANE to AHCI Before Cloning
without having to reinstall.
Right-click the Windows Start Menu. Choose Command Prompt (Admin).
If you don’t see Command Prompt listed, it’s because you have already been updated to a later version of Windows.
Right click start and choose Command Promt (ADMIN)
If you do not have that option but rather it says Power Shell Admin then do that.
Type this command and press ENTER:
bcdedit /set safeboot minimal
Restart the computer and enter F2 BIOS Setup
Change the SATA Operation mode to AHCI from either IDE or RAID/IRRT/IRST/Optane.
Save changes and exit Setup and Windows will automatically boot to Safe Mode. (Black Desktop Background.)
Your Drive is now ready to be cloned OFFLINE either with a utility or hardware.
Once cloned you will be setting F2 Bios Boot option for the M2 drive to be DRIVE 0
At no point should you be booting WINDOWS with BOTH Drives physically installed.
AFTER CLONE you boot the desired drive and clear booting safe mode.
Right-click the Windows Start Menu once more. Choose Command Prompt (Admin).
Type this command and press ENTER: bcdedit /deletevalue safeboot
Reboot once more and Windows will automatically start with F6 Mass storage AHCI drivers enabled.
oligopolycorp
2 Intern
•
264 Posts
0
August 20th, 2021 20:00
You tell me Ron; you're the big shot with a panda in their avatar.(kidding)
Yes since I got my 4770 It doesn't boot.I have to press the f 12 key to get to the screen that shows my HDD under legacy boot.I then go down 2 selections and I press enter for the windows boot manager then she'll spark right up.Speedstep I'll check my settings.Also windows boot manager is under the UEFI boot entry.
oligopolycorp
2 Intern
•
264 Posts
0
August 20th, 2021 20:00
Through F2 I went to boot mode and it was set to legacy.I set it to UEFI instead and now I don't need to mess with F12 to start it up.Awesome!I couldn't find an AHCI setting.
oligopolycorp
2 Intern
•
264 Posts
0
August 22nd, 2021 17:00
I assume I'm fully into UEFI mode now. Will that cause a problem installing my SSD drive? And Ron I tried to remove the panda joke but it won't let me edit it.
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
1
August 22nd, 2021 20:00
UEFI mode won't cause problems installing an SSD>
The online manual doesn't list BIOS settings so I don't know if this model has a RAID vs AHCI option or not. It would probably be called "SATA Mode" or "SATA Operation", and when you click it you probably would see RAID or AHCI, or maybe AHCI vs ATA, options.
speedstep
9 Legend
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47K Posts
0
August 23rd, 2021 02:00
you cant clone an MBR to a UEFI GPT and boot.
f2 bios drive sata operation must be AHCI for advanced format drives.
oligopolycorp
2 Intern
•
264 Posts
0
August 24th, 2021 18:00
Thanks for the detailed info Speedstep.Secure boot is off,I found the setting for the SATA mode Ron .The choices are SATA and ATA.It was on AHCI so I left it alone.
The Patriot SSD I ordered isn't a raw PCB board;it already has a case which I will mount where the HDD is if needed to ground the SSD to the chassis.